Dual CD/DVD
Released: May 9 2006

Bernard Allison, the son of the late great Luther Allison, released one of his most successful albums, Keeping The Blues Alive, back in 1997, the year of his father’s death. Though it wasn’t his first release, today, nine years and nine albums after Keeping The Blues Alive, Allison’s certainly a seasoned bluesman. Energized - Live In Europe, his latest release (double CD set and DVD), is an explosive live show recorded at the Musa, in Gottengen Germany, on October 20, 2005.

There’s a lot of exciting rhythm and lead guitar work going on it, great tone as well. Bernard’s gritty, soulful voice, at times reminiscent of a blues belting Lou Rawls, is as dynamic as his playing style. Though his father’s influence is prevalent throughout, as well as Lonnie Brooks, Albert King, and Freddie King, there’s also some Jimi Hendrix in there. Not in the shape of a clone either. It’s just that Bernard’s approach and skill is very much like his at times. Watching and listening to Bernard Allison makes one wonder what Hendrix would sound like if he were alive today. That said, Bernard possesses a flavor of originality. His melodic blues style is powerful and rocked up. There are other styles in there as well. He has a tendency to get into some sweet R&B and soulful grooves.

He pays tribute to his father on a few different cuts. The first is a thirteen-minute version of ‘Bad Love’. He solos amazingly throughout. Mike Vlahakis’ Hammond B-3 sound is incredibly full and prominent. The keyboardist gets into a combination of different sounds here. ‘Into My Life’ is led along a soulful, rhythmic groove by the amazing drumming of Andrew Thomas. Bernard’s lead shines here, too. His tone is fat and full of sustain. The song builds to an amazing climax, where he gets going on a powerful riff up until the song’s end. ‘A Woman Named Trouble’ has Bernard doing some fat wah-wah tones. He uses the device well and doesn’t go overboard with it. ‘Too Many Women’, another of Luther’s, displays the amazing bass playing talent of Jassen Wilber. ‘The Way Love Was Meant To Be’ closes the first CD in a sweet soulful mode. His lead playing is spectacular again in this ten-minute tune.

The second CD is just as amazing as the first. It begins with a powerful instrumental called ‘The Walk’, in which Bernard plays slide guitar in a Bo Diddley rhythmic mode. He keeps the slide going for ‘Step Down’, another instrumental. It begins to the tune of ‘Amazing Grace’ before getting into a funky ‘When The Saints Come Marching In’. He then gets into some interesting wah-wah conversation. Next is the melodic and funky ‘Snake Bit Again’, from 2002s ‘Storms Of Life’. It segues nicely into the ‘A Change Must Come’, from ‘Keepin’ The Blues Alive’. Bernard gets down with some funky rhythms in ‘Wah Wah Action’, muscled with some wah-wah pedal of course. Again, he uses this effect tastefully. He closes with the rockin’ ‘I Just Came Back To Say Goodbye’.

Bernard Allison never ceases to amaze and excite in Energized - Live In Europe. The CD set and the DVD are packed with fine blues-rock and solid musicianship on everybody’s part. The feeling I got from listening to it was close to that of hearing ‘Lonnie Brooks Live In Chicago’ for the first time. It’s probably the best electrified blues I’ve heard in some time. No blues collection is complete without this CD set or the DVD. It’s very energetic goodtime music.

Bernard’s number one guitar is his Gibson 336 (named Purple Haze) with his name written across the jumbo frets. When playing slide he uses the James Trussart Steelcaster once owned by his father. He also plays his Blade Custom a lot (named Milky Way because of its night sky finish). You get a good view of these instruments on the DVD, along with a carefree Bernard walking among the audience as he plays. The sound quality of the live show on both the CD and the DVD (Dolby Digital 5.1 Stereo) is excellent. Bernard uses Boogie amps and Ernie Ball strings.

The Bernard Allison Band:
Bernard Allison: guitars, vocals
Mike Vlahakis: keyboards
Jassen Wilber: bass
Andrew Thomas: drums

Energized - Live In Europe Track Listing

CD 1

1. Another Ride To The City (Instrumental)

2. It’s A Man Down There

3. Bad Love

4. A Woman Named Trouble

5. Into My Life

6. Too Many Women

7. The Way Love Was Meant To Be

CD 2

1. The Walk (Instrumental)

2. Step Down (Instrumental)

3. Talking Guitar (Instrumental)

4. Snake Bit Again

5. A Change Must Come

6. Too Cool

7. Wah Wah Action (Instrumental)

8. Don’t Be Confused

9. I Just Came Back To Say Goodbye

The DVD consists of the same material (even though the second CD's three instrumentals are just labeled ‘The Walk’). The CD and the DVD are sold everywhere.

Links
Bernard Allison
Ruf Records